6 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Thanksgiving
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Posted November 21, 2017
Whether you’ve done it for the past five years or it’s your first time, hosting a holiday celebration with family members or friends can be slightly stressful. From the food prep, cleaning and decorations to the actual cooking, you’ll want to sleep for days afterwards – and not just from too much turkey. However, we have six helpful home tips to make your Thanksgiving Day go smoothly.
1. Don’t blast the A.C.
Lots of people in the home can make temps rise, and that hot oven can keep your kitchen toasty, but turning your A.C. dial all the way down could cause your system to give out. A few hours before your guests arrive, drop the temperature down 2-3 degrees. Then, every couple of hours, lower it by that 2-3 degree increment. When your guests fill your home, it will be a comfortable temperature, and you won’t have to worry about that weird uncle needing to shed some layers at the dinner table!
Check your air filters once a month to make sure they are not circulating dust and other allergens. Not only will it save you money on your energy bill, but also your system won’t have to work as hard to keep your home fresh and cool. Win-win!
3. Have your HVAC unit inspected
It may not seem like the most important thing to check off on your to-do list, but having a full HVAC inspection can prevent any unwanted hiccups on Thanksgiving Day. Regularly serviced units can save you money and reduce stress, keeping it running smoothly and efficiently when you need it most!
4. Don’t dump grease down the sink
It’s easy to dump that little bit of grease down the sink after cooking – but resist! That small amount can be more harmful to your pipes than you can imagine. When it hardens up, it can cause the drains to be clogged, and once that happens, there’s no going back. You’ll have to get those pipes cleared. No one wants to spend their Thanksgiving snaking the sink, so think twice about where you put that bacon grease.
5. Don’t overload your outlets
Once everyone’s stuffed with turkey and dressing, they will be in the living room watching football or browsing Black Friday sales before falling into a food coma. Whether it’s cell phones, TVs, or other electronics, having too many devices plugged in uses more electricity and can be a hazard. From loose wires to faulty sockets, fire hazards are a real danger, and they are more risky on holidays where there are multiple people and devices. Make sure you are using surge protectors and keeping your plug-ins to a minimum to prevent any risks. Also, if you live in a particularly old home, you may want to have your home inspected for any potential electrical problems.
6. Keep candles to a minimum
During the holidays, there’s nothing better than a gorgeous tablescape full of florals, candles, and other decorative accents. The more candles, however, the more risk for a potential fire. Make sure you are keeping candles clear of decorations as well as blowing them out when leaving the room. Never leave lit candles unattended or burned down too low (we know you know this already, but we can’t reiterate it enough!).
Pro tip: If you want to have one less thing to worry about, buy some electric candles that look real and add to the atmosphere, but don’t come with the risk of a real flame.
For more helpful Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, and Electrical tips to keep your home ready for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season, contact your local Hiller technician today at 844-MYHILLER.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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